Minesweeper — Simple. Gentle. Private.
Everything runs locally in your browser — no uploads, no accounts.
How to Play
- Reveal empty cells to uncover numbers. Numbers show how many mines touch that cell.
- Flag suspected mines. Clear all non-mine cells to win.
- Mobile: Toggle Flag Mode to place/remove flags with a tap.
- Desktop: Left-click to reveal, right-click to flag. First click is always safe.
Tips
- Start from edges or large empty areas; zeros fan out and reveal quickly.
- Use simple constraints: if a “1” touches only one covered cell, that cell is a mine.
- Don’t guess if you can deduce — patience beats luck.
FAQ
Is this private? Yes. The game runs entirely on your device. Only your best time is stored locally.
What are the presets? Beginner 9×9 with 10 mines, Intermediate 16×16 with 40 mines, Expert 30×16 with 99 mines.
Best Strategies for Winning Minesweeper
Looking for a clear, non-stressful way to improve at Minesweeper? This guide collects the most reliable tips used by experienced players. It covers beginner habits, classic pattern recognition, and simple probability for the rare situations where logic alone cannot decide. Everything here applies to Beginner (9×9, 10 mines), Intermediate (16×16, 40 mines), and Expert (30×16, 99 mines).
1) Start wide, then tidy
- Open a central cell first. With first-click safety, you’ll reveal a safe area. Large empty “0” zones cascade and give you lots of numbers to work with immediately.
- Work the frontier. Focus on the boundary where revealed numbers touch covered cells. This is where information lives.
2) Learn the bread-and-butter patterns
These patterns appear constantly along straight edges:
- 1-1 (adjacent ones). If two “1” tiles share exactly two covered neighbors in a row, each “1” points to its outer neighbor. The middle shared cell is safe.
- 1-2-1. Along a straight line, the two outer covered cells are mines; the cell directly touching the “2” on the opposite side is safe. (This clears big strips quickly.)
- 2-3-2. A frequent variant where the three middle covered cells are mines; the diagonal extensions are often safe. Check the local shape before committing.
- Corners and L-shapes. A “1” in a tight corner pointing to exactly one covered cell means that cell is a mine; the diagonally adjacent cell is usually safe.
Minesweeper is local: most deductions use only the tiles within one or two steps.
3) Use flags deliberately
- Flag only when it helps logic. If a number “2” already touches two obvious mines, the remaining neighbors are safe.
- Watch mines left. The remaining-mine counter keeps your model honest and helps you spot contradictions early.
4) Clear with confidence (a.k.a. chording)
Once a number has exactly the right count of flagged neighbors, reveal its remaining neighbors in one action (“chord”) if supported—or click them manually using the same logic.
5) Defuse common traps
- Double-counting. Each number counts all eight neighbors—don’t forget diagonals.
- Edge mirages. Along borders, patterns change shape; reassess 1-2-1 and friends.
- Islands. If stuck, zoom out and open elsewhere to unlock fresh info.
6) When logic runs out, use gentle probability
True “50/50”s are rare. Prefer the click that, if safe, reveals the largest area (more info next turn).
7) Build calm habits
- Slow down near the end. Most losses happen after the hard work.
- Name the rule before you click. “This 2 already has two mines.”
- Reset early. A relaxed restart beats a frustrated streak.
Practice the core patterns (1-1, 1-2-1, 2-3-2), flag with intention, and let wide safe areas unfold naturally.